# mow

/ˈmoʊ/ (US) · CEFR B1 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/mow
Updated: 2026-05-08

## Definition

to cut down grass or grain using a machine or a sharp tool.

For teachers: to cut down grass or other plants with a scythe or a mechanical device. Often used with 'down' to describe a forceful or rapid action.

## Examples

- I need to mow the lawn this weekend.
- The gardener spent the entire morning trying to mow the overgrown grass behind the old barn.
- While modern tractors allow farmers to mow vast fields in hours, traditional methods required a team of workers to swing scythes in a rhythmic, coordinated motion from dawn until dusk.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I mowed the grass with a scissors" but "I mowed the grass with a mower" — Mow specifically refers to cutting with a machine or a scythe; smaller tools like scissors are not used with this verb.

## Usage notes

- The verb is transitive and typically takes 'lawn', 'grass', or 'field' as a direct object.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.